FORT MYERS, Fla. — The news of Alex Bregman joining the Red Sox was met with excitement in the clubhouse Wednesday as players viewed it as a clear sign Boston will be a contender in 2025. But Bregman’s unique, lucrative contract also signaled a change in circumstances for two players who seemed to have a lot riding on how they performed this spring.
Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell each arrived at Fenway South on Wednesday morning with much murkier paths to significant playing time now that Bregman, a career third baseman, is expected to take over at second base for the Red Sox once his signing becomes official. Grissom, who struggled with injury and performance in a lost first season with the club in 2024, was seen as a strong bounce-back candidate after bulking up by gaining nearly 20 lbs. in the offseason. Campbell arrived in Fort Myers as one of the top storylines of the spring as a fast-rising top prospect who seemed poised to make the team and debut as the Opening Day second baseman.
Now, with Bregman in tow, the Red Sox can take things slower with the versatile Campbell and not feel pressured to accelerate his path to the majors based on a roster hole. Grissom’s organizational status appears even more in doubt now that Bregman is the short-term answer at second base and Campbell appears to be the long-term one.
For Grissom, the addition of Bregman represents the latest motivating factor for a player who felt like he had a lot to prove after hitting .190 with a .465 OPS when injuries limited him to 31 big league games in 2024. It’s a move he’s taking in stride.
“I’d say it motivates me, for sure,” Grissom said. “Obviously, I would like to share the field with him. I wouldn’t be selfish and get upset because you never know. You never know how the season starts different than it ends. There’s a lot of moving pieces and stuff like that. Anything can happen. … It’s hard to guess what happens in this game. But yeah, it motivates me. I feel ready to go and I can’t wait to meet him, honestly.
“I’m still going to try to be the best ballplayer I can be and help the team win however I can in whatever role that may be,” Grissom said. “You never know what can happen.”
Campbell, who got all the way to Triple-A in his first professional season in 2024, said he looks at the chance to share a clubhouse with Bregman as an opportunity to learn.
“It was really cool (to see we signed him),” Campbell said. “He’s a really good player. A lot of experience in baseball so it’s really exciting to get a guy like that. Lots to learn from him, being in leadership roles and championship roles. I think it’s a really good thing.
“(I want to) learn as much as possible from someone who has been there and done that their whole career. He’s a great guy from what I’ve heard and it’s a really good player so I’m going to pick his brain, learn as much as I can and keep rolling into spring training with a positive mindset.”
Campbell, ranked earlier this year as the No. 4 overall prospect in the game by Baseball America, projects as a big part of Boston’s future regardless of Bregman’s status. The fact Bregman can opt out after one year could clear the way for Campbell to play second in 2026, but the fact he’s extremely versatile (he played four different positions in 2024) means there are multiple paths to a big league spot. The Red Sox envisioned Campbell as someone who would take get a good chunk of reps at second base this spring. Now, he’ll likely play in both the infield and outfield.
“Wherever they tell me to go,” Campbell said, laughing. “I don’t know yet. Second, left field, right field, center field, shortstop, third.”
Grissom, who played every infield position outside of first base in the Braves organization before being traded for Chris Sale last winter, exclusively played second base for the Red Sox in 2024. With Bregman in tow, it’s expected the Red Sox talk with him about moving around the diamond in the coming days, too.
“It doesn’t have to really be discussed,” Grissom said. “I kind of know where I’m at, just trying to stay alive as long as possible. That’s one of the ways to have a backup plan.
Grissom could also play some outfield after a cameo there in winter ball last offseason. No matter where he plays, he feels like he has much to prove, especially in an even more crowded mix.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’ve got the itch. Obviously, last year didn’t go as well as I’d wanted, but I ended strong. I got to a point to where I got my confidence back, which is half of it. I’m coming into the season ready to go.”
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